Apparatus for delivering power

ABSTRACT

A power delivery device comprises a reciprocably driven piston plate which in a power stroke forces liquid in a closed circuit through an output coupling to drive an output shaft. A pneumatic circuit includes a reciprocating piston which is externally driven and which serves to impart reciprocation to the piston plate. The reciprocating piston is connected to a rotatable blade wheel in the liquid circuit to absorb energy from the liquid circuit and minimize the external power supplied to the device.

United States Patent 1191 Keyes 1451 June 11, 1974 APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING POWER [76] Inventor: Wilmer Keyes, 746 McDonough St.,

Brooklyn, NY. 11233 22 Filed: Sept. 28, 1972' [21] Appl. No.2 293,165

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 29,426, Nov. 24, I970- Pat. No. 3,716,216, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 802,331, Feb. 24, 1969, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 60/698 [51] Int. Cl. F01k 27/00 [58] Field of Search 60/698 [56] v References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,938,347 5/1960 Sturgis 60/456 BATTERY COOL/N6 SYSTEM Primary Examiner-William R. Cline Assistant Examiner-Alln M. Ostrager Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Roberts & Cohen 57] ABSTRACT A power delivery device comprises a reciprocably driven piston plate which in a power stroke forces liquid in a closed circuit through an output coupling to drive an output shaft. A pneumatic circuit includes a reciprocating piston which is externally driven and which serves to impart reciprocation to the piston plate. The reciprocating piston is connected to a rotatable blade wheel in the liquid circuit to absorb energy from the liquidcircuit and minimize the external power supplied to the device.

Q 10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENTEUJux 1 1 m4 SHEEI 1 OF 3 INVENTOR. WILMER KEYES ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJux 1 1 I974 SHEET 2 BF 3 INVEN WILMER K Y 5 ATTORNEYS PATENTE-muu 1 1 1914 saw 3 BF 5 CROSS RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of my earlier application Ser. No. 29,426, filed Nov. 24, 1970, now Pat. No. 3,716,216, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of earlier application Ser. No. 802,331, filed Feb. 24, 1969 and now abandoned.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to apparatus for delivering power and more particularly to a very efficient power delivery system. l

The external source of motive power for the delivery apparatus is electrical although other suitable, nonpolluting power sources can also be employed.

The apparatus can be used effectively in vehicles and by virtue of its highefficiency and electrical power source, it can operate without conventional combustion of fuel thereby avoiding the attendent pollution problems thereof.

7 According to the invention, there is provided apparatus for delivering power comprising first means defining a closed liquid circuit in which a liquid is adapted to circulate under pressure, second means defining a second closed-fluid circuit through which a fluid is adapted to circulate under pressure, an output means in said closed liquid circuit for being driven by the circulating liquid therein, means common to both said circuits for delivering power from the second means to the first means to produce circulation of said liquid, reaction means in said first means coupled to the second means to utilize the circulation of the liquid at least partly to circulate the fluid in said second means, and input means for supplying external power to said second means to circulate the fluid therein. The input means is preferably electrical although any nonpolluting power source can be employed.

A feature of the invention is that there is no combustion of a fuel and consequent discharge of pollutants. Additionally, the apparatus is quietin operation and is desirable because of its minimum number of moving parts.

' BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawing, therein is seen a housing 1 in which a liquid is circulated and travels to a rotor drive means 2 for driving an output shaft 3 in rotation. The housing 1 has a chamber 4 in which there is mounted a rotatable blade wheel 5. A plate 6 is fixedly mounted in the housing 1 and an elastic bellows 7 is attached to the plate 6 to undergo axial expansion and compression in a manner to be explained later. The bel-.

lows carries a piston plate 8 which in a power stroke to the right in FIG. 1 of the drawing is instrumental in producing a liquid circulation in the direction of arrows A in FIG. 1 and in causing rotation of blade wheelS in the direction of arrow B. Plate6 and plate 8 have aligned apertures 9 and 10 respectively, which are connected in sealed manner by a telescopic tube 11 suchthat liq- 'uid can flow through the bellows as it expands and contracts. A flap valve 10a is hingeably attached to plate 8 and is resiliently constructed to close aperture 10 when plate 8 moves to the right and to open the aperture 10 when the plate moves tothe left. A thermostatic valve 12 is located in housing I and connects chamber 4 with a heat exchanger 13 where the liquid undergoes cooling. The cooled liquid is circulated by a pump 13a into an equalization or stabilization chamber 14 where the cooled liquid can return to the chamber 4 via throttle holes 14a. Up to this point,there has been disclosed a closed liquid circuit in which a circulating liquid can flow under pressure to drive shaft 3 through the intermediary of drive means 2 as will be explained more fully later. The closed liquid circuit is appropriately sealed at all joints ina manner well known to those skilled in the art.

A closed pneumatic circuit 15 is provided to drive the bellows 7 and the piston 8 and the circuit 15 includes a fixed cylinder 16 with a reciprocal piston 17 sealingly mounted therein to define chambers 18 and 19 on opposite sides thereof. The piston 17 is coupled to wheel 5 and as it undergoes 'reciprocationin cylinder 16 wheel 5 is rotated. This is achievedby a conventional crankshaft arrangement. As an input to the system, the piston 17 is also externally driven in reciprocation and for the purpose the piston 17 is constructed of magnetic material and a generator 20 acts on an electromagnet 21 which exerts an attractive force on the piston. A spring 22 is operatively connected between piston 17 and cylinder 16 to oppose movement of piston 1 7 to the left in the drawing and to surrender energy in displacing the piston 17 to the right in the drawing. Obviously, the arrangement of the electromagnet and the spring can be reversed. The chamber 18 in cylinder 16 is connected to the interior of bellows 7, and when the piston 17 moves to the left in FIG. 1 a oneway check valve 23 closes and a pulse of air is introduced into the bellows producing amovement to the right of piston plate 8. A telescopic conduit 24 connected to piston plate 8 permits such movement of the plate. When the plate reaches the end of its power stroke, the piston 17 starts moving to the right and check valve 23 opens as does a check valve 25. The air then flows from bellows 7 through conduit 24 to an air equalization or stabilization chamber 26 wherefrom the air then flows back into chamber 18. A slidable piston 27 is disposed between the equalization chamber 14 and 26 and is biassed on opposite sides 'by helical springs as shown.

A spring biassed valve 50 is mounted to selectively open and close an aperture 8b in a wall 8a operating chamber 4 and the driverheans 2. The arrangement of the valve50 with respect to aperture 8b is such that when plate 8 is in its power stroke valve 50 is open and liquid can flow through aperture 8b and drive the drive means 2. When the plate 8 is in suction stroke, valve 50 closes the aperture 8b and liquid flows through the open flap valve to fill the space in front of plate 8 produced by movement of the plate 8 to the left.

It is seen from the above that the interaction of the pneumatic circuit and the liquid circuit in the bellows 7 serves to transfer energy to the liquid circuit for driving the output means 2 and the blade wheel 5. The blade wheel is positioned with its axis slightly above and to the right of piston plate 8 to produce a suction effect in chamber 4 at the level of piston plate 8 thereby promoting the movement of piston plate 8 in its power stroke.

In operation, the air flows in the pneumatic circuit and displaces plate 8 which cases flap 10a and valve 8b to be selectively opened and closed to cause circulation of liquid in the liquid circuit in the direction of arrow A to produce power output at output means 2, the blade wheel 5 serving as a reaction member to return a portion of the-liquid energy to piston 17. The generator which acts to drive piston 17 is energized from a battery 28, the generator and the battery being partly energized from the output shaft 3. Because of the relatively efficient usage of energy'transfer between the liquid and pneumatic circuits and their particular interaction, the external power can be supplied to the system by the battery and generator. It is also contemplated that the pump 13 be driven from the output shaft 3 as shown.

In order to regulate the speed at which the output shaft 3 is driven, a modulation means 29 is employed which comprises a closed elastic tube 30 formed with a loop 31 to define an opening 32 disposed in chamber 4. The tube 30 is confined in a rigid tube 33a as seen in FIG. 2. By applying a force to a piston 54 at one end of the tube (the opposite end of the tube being closed) the size of the opening 32 can be controlled. This serves to control the liquid passage area in chamber 4 around the periphery of blade wheel 5. As the opening 32 decreases in size, the velocity of the liquid flow increases and the speed of rotation of blade wheel 5 increases. This produces an increase in speed of the output shaft 3. This piston 54 can be controlled manually,

as for example, by a foot pedal in a vehicle. If greater control of the size of the opening 32 is desired, the piston 54 can be replaced by a valve which controls admission into tube 30 of compressed air, the latter valve being operated by the foot pedal.

The output means is shown in FIG. 3 and herein is seena rotor 33 secured on shaft 3. The liquid flows from chamber 4 to rotor 33 via five tubes 34 arranged around the circumference of rotor 33. Rotatable blade wheels 35 are mounted in respective closed casings in the housing, the casings being fixed to the housing and each having an inlet for a tube 34 and an outlet for an aligned outlet tube 41. The liquid flows from each tube 34 through the respective casing to the corresponding tube 41 to drive the blade wheel 35 in rotation.

Mounted around the circumference of the rotor are 40. The blade wheel is constructed as a split wheel composed of two portions secured together and defining a ball-shape cavity at its center. The ball-shape central portion 39 is fitted in the cavity of corresponding shape in a blade wheel 35 and the radial arms 40 are loosely fitted between opposed surfaces of the portions of the split wheel. By this construction, the insert member 38 is constrained to rotate with the blade wheel about its axis of rotation under the flow of liquid from tube 34 to tube 41 while permitting pivotal movement of the ball-shape portion 39 in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, said arms 40 lying in this latter plane. The amount of pivotal movement perpendicular to the axis of rotation can be limited by the side walls of the wheel 35 in order to prevent protrusion of the arms outside the blade wheel.

The ends of the wires 37 are secured to the ball shaped portions 39 and the wires are urged by their resiliency into contact with the surface of rotor 33. The

wires 37 have two helical windings between successive insert members and these windings are engaged with rods 36 in the manner of a worm and gear so as to produce rotation of rotor 33 as the blade wheels 35 rotate. The blade wheels 35 are supported in their respective casings by the elastic system of wires and insert members and essentially are free floating in the casings. To assemble, the elastic system of wires and insert members is mounted around the rotor in self-sustaining support thereon with the windings of the wires fitted between the rods 36 and pressed into engagement therewith. The blade wheels are then mounted on the insert members, and thereafter the blade wheels are installed in their respective casings, the latter having dismountable side plates for this purpose. When the casings are assembled, the blade wheels are sealed therein and are exposed only to inlet and outlet'tubes 34 and 41. The wires 37 pass through sealing glands in the casings. The elastic system of helical windings is particularly effective to eq'uilibrate any differences in rotation speed of the blades and to take up slack or sudden impulses. It is thus considerably more effective than connecting a rigid worm to the blade wheels and forming the rotor as a gear which meshes with the worms. The rods 36 are mounted in bearings (not shown) so as to be rotatable about their longitudinal axes and this serves to minimize frictional effects and jamming between the windings 37 and the rods.

After the liquid has passed through the output means to drive the shaft 3, the spent liquid passes through the five tubes 41, coaxial with tubes 34, and returns into housing 1 on the left side of plate 6. The liquid passes through tube 11 into chamber 4 for renewed pressurization and again flows to the output means.

In a modified arrangement as shown in FIG. 5, the

.wheel 5 is directly coupled to the output shaft via a worm gear 101 on the axle of wheel 5 which drives a bevel gear 102 coupled on shaft 3.

The chamber 18 of the pneumatic circuit 15 is connected'to a compression chamber 105 in a housing 106 containing a piston 107 composed of parts 108. and 109 which are slidable in housing 106 and which are separated by a relatively strong spring 111.

A conduit 112 of the liquid circuit leads into a chamber 113 in housing on the right side of piston part 109. The chamber 113 is connected via a conduit 114 to the cooling system which in turn is connected to the pump 13a connected to chamber 14. A bypass conduit 115 extends directly from conduit 112 to the cooling system by-passing the chamber 113.

An air compressor is coupled to the output shaft 3 and leads into conduit 116 connecting chamber 18 and a heating chamber 119 located between chamber 18 and compression chamber 105.

inlet to chamber 113 and a discharge valve 122 is located in conduit 114 at the outlet of chamber 113. When the piston 107 moves to the left in FIG. 5 the valve 121 is opened and valve 122 is closed (illustrated position in FIG. 5). When the piston 107 moves to the right in a power stroke, valve 122 is opened and valve 121 closed. In this way liquid undergoes circulation along path A to assist in driving the output shaft in the manner explained previously with respect to the first embodiment.

As a means for modulating the power, a control member 123 acts on a throttle valve 124 which adjusts the relative flow rate 'of the liquid through the conduit 112 and the by-pass conduit 115. As conduit 112 is increasingly throttled there will be a smaller liquid flow through the housing 106 and hence a reduced output.

Although the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for delivering power comprising a closed hydraulic circuit in which a liquid is adapted to circulate under pressure, a closed fluid circuit through which a gaseous fluid is adapted to circulate under pressure, a cylinder with reciprocally movable piston in said fluid circuit, an output means, means for driving said output means at least in part by the circulating liquid in said hydraulic circuit, means common to both said circuits for delivering power from the fluid circuit to the hydraulic circuit to produce circulation of said liquid, reaction means in said hydraulic circuit comprising a rotatable blade wheel coupled to the piston in the fluid circuit, said blade wheel being disposed in said hydraulic circuit to be driven by the liquid circulating therein, and input means for supplying external power to said piston in the fluid circuit to drive said piston in reciprocation and to circulate the fluid in the second circuit.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means which is common to both circuits comprises a bellows and a second piston secured to said bellows and supported in a liquid chamber provided in said hydraulic circuit, said bellows being connected to said cylinder to produce reciprocation of said second piston in synchronism with the reciprocation of the piston in the fluid circuit, said bellows being provided with a passage for liquid therethrough in isolation from the fluid in the bellows.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim .2 wherein said blade wheel is positioned adjacent said second piston to produce suction effect in the hydraulic circuit and promote travel of the second piston in a power stroke thereof.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising means drivingly connecting said blade wheel to said output means.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means which is common to both circuits comprises a further piston which is coupled to and undergoes reciprocation with the piston in the fluid circuit to effect circulation of liquid in the hydraulic circuit.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising cool ing means for the liquid in said hydraulic circuit.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hydraulic and fluid circuits include respective equalization chambers, and comprising a balancing piston be tween said chambers.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising modulation means in said hydraulic circuit to control said output means.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said output means comprises a rotatable output shaft, further blade wheels driven in rotation by the circulating liquid in the hydraulic'circuit and means transmitting power from the further blade wheels to said output shaft.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said fur-.

ther blade wheels are disposed around said output shaft, and said means for transmitting power from the further blade wheels to the output shaft comprises axial rollers on and around the circumference of said output shaft, and helical, resilient members connecting the blade wheels and in driving engagement with said rollers. 

1. Apparatus for delivering power comprising a closed hydraulic circuit in which a liquid is adapted to circulate under pressure, a closed fluid circuit through which a gaseous fluid is adapted to circulate under pressure, a cylinder with reciprocally movabLe piston in said fluid circuit, an output means, means for driving said output means at least in part by the circulating liquid in said hydraulic circuit, means common to both said circuits for delivering power from the fluid circuit to the hydraulic circuit to produce circulation of said liquid, reaction means in said hydraulic circuit comprising a rotatable blade wheel coupled to the piston in the fluid circuit, said blade wheel being disposed in said hydraulic circuit to be driven by the liquid circulating therein, and input means for supplying external power to said piston in the fluid circuit to drive said piston in reciprocation and to circulate the fluid in the second circuit.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means which is common to both circuits comprises a bellows and a second piston secured to said bellows and supported in a liquid chamber provided in said hydraulic circuit, said bellows being connected to said cylinder to produce reciprocation of said second piston in synchronism with the reciprocation of the piston in the fluid circuit, said bellows being provided with a passage for liquid therethrough in isolation from the fluid in the bellows.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said blade wheel is positioned adjacent said second piston to produce suction effect in the hydraulic circuit and promote travel of the second piston in a power stroke thereof.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising means drivingly connecting said blade wheel to said output means.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means which is common to both circuits comprises a further piston which is coupled to and undergoes reciprocation with the piston in the fluid circuit to effect circulation of liquid in the hydraulic circuit.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising cooling means for the liquid in said hydraulic circuit.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hydraulic and fluid circuits include respective equalization chambers, and comprising a balancing piston between said chambers.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising modulation means in said hydraulic circuit to control said output means.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said output means comprises a rotatable output shaft, further blade wheels driven in rotation by the circulating liquid in the hydraulic circuit and means transmitting power from the further blade wheels to said output shaft.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said further blade wheels are disposed around said output shaft, and said means for transmitting power from the further blade wheels to the output shaft comprises axial rollers on and around the circumference of said output shaft, and helical, resilient members connecting the blade wheels and in driving engagement with said rollers. 